Skip to main contentProvenanceThe artist
Mr. Dan Burne Jones, Oak Park, Illinois
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1983 (gift of Mr. Dan Burne Jones)
Exhibition HistoryPublished References
Rockwell Kent
(American, 1882–1971)
Cranberrying, Monhegan
c. 1907
Oil on canvas
Overall: 28 1/16 × 38 1/4 in. (71.3 × 97.2 cm)
Frame: 34 5/16 × 44 5/16 × 3 in. (87.2 × 112.6 × 7.6 cm)
Frame: 34 5/16 × 44 5/16 × 3 in. (87.2 × 112.6 × 7.6 cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Gift of Mr. Dan Burne Jones
Object numberC1983.4
Copyright© Plattsburgh State Art Museum, Rockwell Kent Gallery and Collection
SignedLower right: Rockwell Kent
InterpretationTiny figures are scattered across a cranberry bog below a grassy ridge and a lowering steely sky in Rockwell Kent’s dramatic Cranberrying, Monhegan. The simple composition is divided into broad bands of sky and land, each again divided: field and distant ridge below, and lighter and darker sky above. The application of paint in broad, sweeping strokes complements the unbounded breadth and depth of the landscape, in which the berry harvesters appear dwarfed and vulnerable. In the foreground, sparse grasses rendered by quick dashes of paint indicate the incessant wind that animates the bleak landscape of Monhegan Island, Maine.
The coastline of Maine had attracted artists since the mid-nineteenth century. An adventurer and outdoorsman with a penchant for remote settings and harsh, forbidding climates, Kent first visited Monhegan in 1905. He built himself a house there and returned frequently; in 1910, he even ran a seasonal school for some of the artists who, along with tourists, flocked to Monhegan in summertime. In his paintings, however, Kent preserved the island’s image as an isolated place in which humankind, represented by hardy local inhabitants, comes face-to-face with elemental nature. In Cranberrying, Monhegan, the human endeavor to wrest a livelihood from the land appears at once heroic and futile.
Only understated strokes of dull red, suggesting a concentration of ripe berries on the distant tawny ground, bear out Kent’s title for this work. The site shown is undoubtedly the “great flat area” Kent described in his autobiography as located between Monhegan’s village and the ridge called Horn’s Hill: “a cranberry marsh for half the year and, flooded for the other half, a skating pond.” In the nineteenth century the labor-intensive gathering of this indigenous American fruit, which grows wild in low-lying coastal regions, was celebrated as a communal ritual, notably in painter Eastman Johnson's, famous Cranberry Harvest, Island of Nantucket of 1874 (Timken Museum of Art, San Diego). Kent, in contrast, scatters his pickers—all distant from the viewer—as if to underscore through their isolation the bleak and remote quality of the island itself.
The coastline of Maine had attracted artists since the mid-nineteenth century. An adventurer and outdoorsman with a penchant for remote settings and harsh, forbidding climates, Kent first visited Monhegan in 1905. He built himself a house there and returned frequently; in 1910, he even ran a seasonal school for some of the artists who, along with tourists, flocked to Monhegan in summertime. In his paintings, however, Kent preserved the island’s image as an isolated place in which humankind, represented by hardy local inhabitants, comes face-to-face with elemental nature. In Cranberrying, Monhegan, the human endeavor to wrest a livelihood from the land appears at once heroic and futile.
Only understated strokes of dull red, suggesting a concentration of ripe berries on the distant tawny ground, bear out Kent’s title for this work. The site shown is undoubtedly the “great flat area” Kent described in his autobiography as located between Monhegan’s village and the ridge called Horn’s Hill: “a cranberry marsh for half the year and, flooded for the other half, a skating pond.” In the nineteenth century the labor-intensive gathering of this indigenous American fruit, which grows wild in low-lying coastal regions, was celebrated as a communal ritual, notably in painter Eastman Johnson's, famous Cranberry Harvest, Island of Nantucket of 1874 (Timken Museum of Art, San Diego). Kent, in contrast, scatters his pickers—all distant from the viewer—as if to underscore through their isolation the bleak and remote quality of the island itself.
Mr. Dan Burne Jones, Oak Park, Illinois
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1983 (gift of Mr. Dan Burne Jones)
Exhibition History
Rockwell Kent: The Early Years, Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick, Maine (organizer). Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, August 1–October 5, 1969. [exh. cat.]
Landscape in Maine, 1820–1970: A Sesquicentennial Exhibition, Colby College Art Museum, Waterville, Maine (organizer). Colby College Art Museum, Waterville, Maine, April 4–May 10, 1970; Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, May 21–June 28, 1970; Carnegie Gallery, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, July 8–August 30, 1970. [exh. cat.]
Two Hundred Years of American Painting from Private Chicago Collections, Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois, June 25–September 2, 1983.
An Enkindled Eye: The Paintings of Rockwell Kent, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, California (organizer). Venues: Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, California, June 29–September 1, 1985; Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio, October 12–November 13, 1985; Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Maine, January 21–March 2, 1986; Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York, April 11–May 18, 1986. [exh. cat.]
The Allure of the Maine Coast: Robert Henri & His Circle, 1903–1919, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Maine (organizer). Venue: Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Maine, June 29, 1995–October 15, 1995.
Visions of a Nation: Exploring Identity through American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, August 10, 1996–January 12, 1997.
Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920 (The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–July 15, 1999; Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, December 10, 1999–May 7, 2000 (in modified form). [exh. cat.]
A Place on the Avenue: Terra Museum of American Art Celebrates 15 Years in Chicago, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, November 16, 2002–February 16, 2003.
Manifest Destiny, Manifest Responsibility: Environmentalism and the Art of the American Landscape. Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois and Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizers). Venue: Loyola University Museum of Art, May 17–August 10, 2008. [exh. cat.]
Expanding Horizons: American and Canadian Painting and Photography, 1860-1918, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada (organizer), Venues: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada, June 18–September 27, 2009; Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada, October 17, 2009–January 17, 2010. [exh. cat.]
Da Hopper a Warhol: Pittura Americana del XX secolo a San Marino (From Hopper to Warhol: American Painting of the Twentieth Century in San Marino), Linea d'ombra (organizer). Venue: Repubblica di San Marino, Palazzo Sums, January 21–June 3 2012. [exh. cat.]
Jamie Wyeth, Rockwell Kent and Monhegan, Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, Maine (organizer); Venue: Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, Maine May 12–December 30, 2012; Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford Pennsylvania, June 15–November 17, 2013. Exhibited at Brandywine River Museum [exh. cat.]
The Studio of Nature, 1860-1910: The Terra Collection in Context (L’atelier de la Nature, 1860-1910. Invitation à la Terra Collection). Terra Foundation for American Art with the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny (organizers). Venue: Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, France, September 12, 2020–January 3, 2021. [exh. cat. in French]
American Landscapes, David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. Venue: David C. Driskell Center, September 9–November 19, 2021. [exh. cat.]
Landscape in Maine, 1820–1970: A Sesquicentennial Exhibition, Colby College Art Museum, Waterville, Maine (organizer). Colby College Art Museum, Waterville, Maine, April 4–May 10, 1970; Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, May 21–June 28, 1970; Carnegie Gallery, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, July 8–August 30, 1970. [exh. cat.]
Two Hundred Years of American Painting from Private Chicago Collections, Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois, June 25–September 2, 1983.
An Enkindled Eye: The Paintings of Rockwell Kent, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, California (organizer). Venues: Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, California, June 29–September 1, 1985; Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio, October 12–November 13, 1985; Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Maine, January 21–March 2, 1986; Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York, April 11–May 18, 1986. [exh. cat.]
The Allure of the Maine Coast: Robert Henri & His Circle, 1903–1919, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Maine (organizer). Venue: Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Maine, June 29, 1995–October 15, 1995.
Visions of a Nation: Exploring Identity through American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, August 10, 1996–January 12, 1997.
Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920 (The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venues: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–July 15, 1999; Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, December 10, 1999–May 7, 2000 (in modified form). [exh. cat.]
A Place on the Avenue: Terra Museum of American Art Celebrates 15 Years in Chicago, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, November 16, 2002–February 16, 2003.
Manifest Destiny, Manifest Responsibility: Environmentalism and the Art of the American Landscape. Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois and Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizers). Venue: Loyola University Museum of Art, May 17–August 10, 2008. [exh. cat.]
Expanding Horizons: American and Canadian Painting and Photography, 1860-1918, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada (organizer), Venues: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada, June 18–September 27, 2009; Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada, October 17, 2009–January 17, 2010. [exh. cat.]
Da Hopper a Warhol: Pittura Americana del XX secolo a San Marino (From Hopper to Warhol: American Painting of the Twentieth Century in San Marino), Linea d'ombra (organizer). Venue: Repubblica di San Marino, Palazzo Sums, January 21–June 3 2012. [exh. cat.]
Jamie Wyeth, Rockwell Kent and Monhegan, Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, Maine (organizer); Venue: Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, Maine May 12–December 30, 2012; Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford Pennsylvania, June 15–November 17, 2013. Exhibited at Brandywine River Museum [exh. cat.]
The Studio of Nature, 1860-1910: The Terra Collection in Context (L’atelier de la Nature, 1860-1910. Invitation à la Terra Collection). Terra Foundation for American Art with the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny (organizers). Venue: Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, France, September 12, 2020–January 3, 2021. [exh. cat. in French]
American Landscapes, David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. Venue: David C. Driskell Center, September 9–November 19, 2021. [exh. cat.]
Rockwell Kent: The Early Years. (exh. cat., Bowdoin College Museum of Art). Brunswick, Maine: Bowdoin College Museum of Art, 1969. Text cat. no. 9 (checklist); ill. cat. no. 9 (black & white).
Landscape in Maine, 1820–1970: A Sesquicentennial Exhibition. (exh. cat., Colby College Art Museum). Waterville, Maine: Maine Federation of Women's Clubs, 1970. Text p. 84; ill. p. 85 (black & white).
West, Richard V. "An Enkindled Eye": The Paintings of Rockwell Kent. (exh. cat., Santa Barbara Museum of Art). Santa Barbara, California: Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1985. Text p. 17; ill. p. 42, cat. no. 15 (black & white).
Cartwright, Derrick R. The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text pp. 19–20, 25 (checklist); ill. p. 20, fig. 23 (black & white).
Cartwright, Derrick R. Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text pp. 19–20, 25 (checklist); ill. p. 20, fig. 23 (black & white).
Bourguignon, Katherine M. and Elizabeth Kennedy. The People Work: American Perspectives, 1840–1940. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2003. Text p. 28 (checklist).
Bourguignon, Katherine M. and Elizabeth Kennedy. Le Travail à l'oeuvre: les artistes américains, 1840–1940. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2003. Text p. 28 (checklist).
Brownlee, Peter John. Manifest Destiny / Manifest Responsibility: Environmentalism and the Art of the American Landscape. (exh. cat., Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art and Loyola University Museum of Art, 2008. Text pp. 29, 36 (checklist); Ill. Pl. 14, p. 50 (color).
Goldfarb, Hilliard T., ed. Expanding Horizons: Painting and Photography of American and Canadian Landscapes, 1860–1918. (exh. cat., Montreal Museum of Fine Arts). Montreal: The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and SOMOGY Art Publishers, 2009. Text pp. 295, 312 (checklist); Ill. p. 295 (color).
Da Hopper a Warhol: Pittura Americana del XX secolo a San Marino. (exh. cat., Linea d'ombra). Treviso, Italy: Linea d'ombra, 2012. Text p. 44; ill. p. 45 (color).
Burdan, Amanda C. Jamie Wyeth, Rockwell Kent and Monhegan. (exh. cat., Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania). Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania: Brandywine River Museum, 2013. Text, p. 5; ill. frontispiece (color detail), p. 15 (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine M., and Peter John Brownlee, eds. Conversations with the Collection: A Terra Foundation Collection Handbook. Chicago: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2018. Text pp. 194, 195; ill. p. 194, detail pp. 195–196 (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine and Valerie Reis. The Studio of Nature, 1860-1910: The Terra Collection in Context. (exh. cat, Terra Foundation for American Art with the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny). Paris, France: Réunion des musées nationaux, 2020. Text p. 148; Pl. 88, p. 158 (color).
The David C. Driskell Center. American Landscapes. (exh. cat, The David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park). College Park, MD: The David C. Driskell Center, 2021. Text pp. 26; ill. p. 79 (color).
Landscape in Maine, 1820–1970: A Sesquicentennial Exhibition. (exh. cat., Colby College Art Museum). Waterville, Maine: Maine Federation of Women's Clubs, 1970. Text p. 84; ill. p. 85 (black & white).
West, Richard V. "An Enkindled Eye": The Paintings of Rockwell Kent. (exh. cat., Santa Barbara Museum of Art). Santa Barbara, California: Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1985. Text p. 17; ill. p. 42, cat. no. 15 (black & white).
Cartwright, Derrick R. The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text pp. 19–20, 25 (checklist); ill. p. 20, fig. 23 (black & white).
Cartwright, Derrick R. Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text pp. 19–20, 25 (checklist); ill. p. 20, fig. 23 (black & white).
Bourguignon, Katherine M. and Elizabeth Kennedy. The People Work: American Perspectives, 1840–1940. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2003. Text p. 28 (checklist).
Bourguignon, Katherine M. and Elizabeth Kennedy. Le Travail à l'oeuvre: les artistes américains, 1840–1940. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 2003. Text p. 28 (checklist).
Brownlee, Peter John. Manifest Destiny / Manifest Responsibility: Environmentalism and the Art of the American Landscape. (exh. cat., Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art and Loyola University Museum of Art, 2008. Text pp. 29, 36 (checklist); Ill. Pl. 14, p. 50 (color).
Goldfarb, Hilliard T., ed. Expanding Horizons: Painting and Photography of American and Canadian Landscapes, 1860–1918. (exh. cat., Montreal Museum of Fine Arts). Montreal: The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and SOMOGY Art Publishers, 2009. Text pp. 295, 312 (checklist); Ill. p. 295 (color).
Da Hopper a Warhol: Pittura Americana del XX secolo a San Marino. (exh. cat., Linea d'ombra). Treviso, Italy: Linea d'ombra, 2012. Text p. 44; ill. p. 45 (color).
Burdan, Amanda C. Jamie Wyeth, Rockwell Kent and Monhegan. (exh. cat., Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania). Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania: Brandywine River Museum, 2013. Text, p. 5; ill. frontispiece (color detail), p. 15 (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine M., and Peter John Brownlee, eds. Conversations with the Collection: A Terra Foundation Collection Handbook. Chicago: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2018. Text pp. 194, 195; ill. p. 194, detail pp. 195–196 (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine and Valerie Reis. The Studio of Nature, 1860-1910: The Terra Collection in Context. (exh. cat, Terra Foundation for American Art with the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny). Paris, France: Réunion des musées nationaux, 2020. Text p. 148; Pl. 88, p. 158 (color).
The David C. Driskell Center. American Landscapes. (exh. cat, The David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park). College Park, MD: The David C. Driskell Center, 2021. Text pp. 26; ill. p. 79 (color).